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A tale of 5 iPhones, a cautionary tale.
- Thread starter Hipnomac
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Do not assume that your contract is canceled if you return your phone! A few years ago, I tried a Treo 600 with AT&T Wireless under the 30 day trial-period in place at that time. After 28 days, I returned the phone to the AT&T location (this was before Cingular acquired AT&T Wireless and changed the name to Cingular which ironically is now AT&T again). They credited me back for the cost of the phone.
To my dismay, the following month I received an invoice for the calling plan I had signed up for. I had another phone on AT&T at the time which was nearly out of contract. I thought that it was a billing error, however, when I called they told me that since I did not call and cancel the contract as well within the 30 days, I would now have to pay $175 in cancelation fees for this line. Also, the purchase of the phone had somehow re-commited my first phone contract for another 2 years which would cost another $175 to cancel plus I was stuck with a crappy old phone.
I attempted to be rational with them and explain that I did not even have a phone with which to use the new line on and had not received any monetary or other consideration for the contract to be held as valid since I had returned the phone, but to no avail.
Moral of the story is - Never assume that a wireless company will be reasonable or fair. If you activate an iphone and later return it within the trial period, I would be sure to call customer service and receive a confirmation that the contract you signed up for has been canceled.
Should have stuck with #4
I have also noticed a little bit of light at the top and edges of my screen, which is normal for hand-held devices with bright lighting, but it doesn't "affect" video or pictures. If this was a problem, it's too bad you didn't get a picture of it being a problem, and too bad you didn't post a picture of that #2, which still confuses me...
On the other hand, yes, a certain percentage of products will have defects. You certainly are the odd man out with such a long chain of defective iPhones, though. I hope your repairs go well.
I have also noticed a little bit of light at the top and edges of my screen, which is normal for hand-held devices with bright lighting, but it doesn't "affect" video or pictures. If this was a problem, it's too bad you didn't get a picture of it being a problem, and too bad you didn't post a picture of that #2, which still confuses me...
On the other hand, yes, a certain percentage of products will have defects. You certainly are the odd man out with such a long chain of defective iPhones, though. I hope your repairs go well.
I had a ton of issues with iPhones from two stores. For my experience at the first two Apple Stores, see my (admittedly very angry post) here: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/333107/
I went to a third store recently, and I had the same exact problems that you had. I'm not going to write out a long rant detailing my experience this time. The long and the short is I had phones that all had 10+ dead pixels and backlight bleeding around the edges; some also had scratches on the chrome right out of the box. I ended up going through four replacements at this particular store before being told to take my money and leave.
Even after my horrible experience at the first two stores, I went back to the third. The monkey never learns I suppose. Despite all my dissatisfaction, I still love the iPhone, I just wish that Apple would have quality control worthy of a $600 device. When a cheap $15 Motorola RAZR has a pristine screen (smaller but the same pixel density) and no scratches, we can make excuses for Apple as long as we like, but the fact will remain that there is something very wrong with Apple's quality control.
I went to a third store recently, and I had the same exact problems that you had. I'm not going to write out a long rant detailing my experience this time. The long and the short is I had phones that all had 10+ dead pixels and backlight bleeding around the edges; some also had scratches on the chrome right out of the box. I ended up going through four replacements at this particular store before being told to take my money and leave.
Even after my horrible experience at the first two stores, I went back to the third. The monkey never learns I suppose. Despite all my dissatisfaction, I still love the iPhone, I just wish that Apple would have quality control worthy of a $600 device. When a cheap $15 Motorola RAZR has a pristine screen (smaller but the same pixel density) and no scratches, we can make excuses for Apple as long as we like, but the fact will remain that there is something very wrong with Apple's quality control.
And what indication do you have that Apple would not want you to upgrade?
So, there is one less thing for you to worry about.
And as far as the guy with all the bad luck, I suggest he stay away from all things electronic before he has a serious accident that will cost him a lot more than $600.
P.S. Stay out of electrical storms as well.
Honestly I think there is something unreasonable about returning a phone because of a few dead pixels or a little light bleeding at the edge of the screen. These are problems inherent to this display technology and if you want to ruin your life obsessing over what does not affect usability in any way, go ahead. I for one have bigger things to worry about. It had scratches on the bezel right out of the box? Well guess what, it will have scratches within a week of using is, so what is the point of getting all hot and bothered about it.
This is 2007 not 1997. There are no longer any "problems inherent" to LCD technology. LCDs in all other Apple products are pristine. Even cheap Dell LCDs don't have bleeding nor dead pixels. The dime-a-dozen RAZR that I'm using now has the same pixel density as the iPhone, and no issues. Before you mention the touch screen, the LCD has nothing to do with the capacitative touch screen, for which I would be more forgiving of quality issues. It's apologetic to contrive excuses for the LCD issues many people are having.
As far as the scratches go, a number of people I know who were lucky enough to get a pristine iPhone at launch still don't have scratches. So maybe you're manhandling yours if you have them within a week.
If you're cool with subpar manufacturing, that's wonderful. It's no way "unreasonable" for us to expect that an item priced at the very high end of its class should have decent quality control. If Apple priced it lower to account for cheap manufacturing, then there would be nothing to get "hot and bothered" about.
The fact that you went to 3 different stores and were unsatisfied with multiple phones, and in fact were told at one point to "take your money and leave" makes me wonder if there is another possibility here besides poor QC at Apple. Like a PITA customer.
If you get more than 2 problem phones, it is most likely that the problem is YOU, not the tech. Read my earlier post. "Perfect" can means lots of things. My gorgeous wife thinks that my fat hairy self is perfect for her.
Maybe my phone has a dead pixel, I havent found it. Maybe there was a microscratch on it somewhere, I didnt see it. While you guys were out whining about the lack of perfection, most the world were out enjoying their phones. The guys who pick up your phones in the Apple refurb store next month will surely thank you though...
ash =o)
Maybe my phone has a dead pixel, I havent found it. Maybe there was a microscratch on it somewhere, I didnt see it. While you guys were out whining about the lack of perfection, most the world were out enjoying their phones. The guys who pick up your phones in the Apple refurb store next month will surely thank you though...
ash =o)
No more problems inherent in other Apple products using LCDs?
Who buys that garbage, I open new Macs all the time and I've had plenty of models with stuck pixels and dead pixels out of the box. 4 of the floor models are exhibiting extreme burn-in, I've had models die on the bench, overheat...the list goes on and on. But I love Apple as a company, their philosophy and design are tops, but their quality control does need attention, and yes, LCD technology is still far from perfect. If you really believe your iPhone isn't functioning properly, then take it back, but I would hate to deal with all of these nit picking whiners on this board. Dead pixels...come on! It's a phone, and it has a warranty. If you're smart, hold on to the phone, get Applecare, and get it swapped out in a year, after all the kinks get worked out and they add remote start to your iPhone. There, I feel better.
Who buys that garbage, I open new Macs all the time and I've had plenty of models with stuck pixels and dead pixels out of the box. 4 of the floor models are exhibiting extreme burn-in, I've had models die on the bench, overheat...the list goes on and on. But I love Apple as a company, their philosophy and design are tops, but their quality control does need attention, and yes, LCD technology is still far from perfect. If you really believe your iPhone isn't functioning properly, then take it back, but I would hate to deal with all of these nit picking whiners on this board. Dead pixels...come on! It's a phone, and it has a warranty. If you're smart, hold on to the phone, get Applecare, and get it swapped out in a year, after all the kinks get worked out and they add remote start to your iPhone. There, I feel better.
i just got my iPhone on friday. it works great! i haven't noticed one thing wrong with it. I wish the speakerphone and earpiece volume could be a little louder. But I suppose those are things that could be fixed with a patch. Because ipod playback is plenty loud.
Its by far the most fun and useful electronic device i've ever purchased even with its issues. v2 can only be better. no way am i waiting 6-7 months for that. I waited for this one forever. I don't mind shelling out 500 in 6 months, especially if the features are worth it.
Its by far the most fun and useful electronic device i've ever purchased even with its issues. v2 can only be better. no way am i waiting 6-7 months for that. I waited for this one forever. I don't mind shelling out 500 in 6 months, especially if the features are worth it.
Iphone
Wellllll, at least you can consider yourself lucky to have the money to have an IPhone.
I am so upset with the prices and charges of REGULAR cell phones, it's just unreal.
With the economy getting worse and worse, there is going to be a huge gap of people who have access to all the toys and tech gadgets and kids whose parents can't even afford the internet connection. Those kids are the ones which are going to make our country go further down the list of literacy.
Soon, we won't even be able to afford the gas to get them to the library.
Mea culpa, mea culpa.
Wellllll, at least you can consider yourself lucky to have the money to have an IPhone.
I am so upset with the prices and charges of REGULAR cell phones, it's just unreal.
With the economy getting worse and worse, there is going to be a huge gap of people who have access to all the toys and tech gadgets and kids whose parents can't even afford the internet connection. Those kids are the ones which are going to make our country go further down the list of literacy.
Soon, we won't even be able to afford the gas to get them to the library.
Mea culpa, mea culpa.